Jul 28, 2016 2 min read

Penn State Extension received funding from Pennsylvania Water Resources Research Center and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide free drinking water testing to a limited number of homeowners using private water wells, springs or cisterns in Greene County.

The testing is for private water supplies that are actively being used for drinking water in the household. Camps or seasonal households that are not continuously used are not eligible for this program.

This testing is limited to the first 40 households using a private well, spring or cistern that register by calling the Greene Co. Extension office at 724-627-3745. The commercial value of this water testing would be $125.

Upon registering, residents can pick up their drinking water test kits between Aug. 22 and 26 at Greene County Extension office located at 26 W. High St. in Waynesburg.

Instructions on how to collect the water sample are included in the kit. The kits have pre-paid postage through the UPS and should be dropped off at a UPS site for overnight shipment back to the Penn State water-testing laboratory. To find a UPS drop-off location, go to www.ups.com/dropoff. The deadline for water test kits to arrive at the laboratory is Sept. 8.

Individual water samples will be analyzed for numerous drinking water parameters including total coliform bacteria, E. coli bacteria, pH, total dissolved solids, corrosivity, nitrate, arsenic, barium, copper and lead. Results of the testing will be available during two separate one-hour workshops to be held Sept. 29 at 2 and 6 p.m. at the 4-H Building at Greene County Fairgrounds.

Residents must attend one of these workshops to get your water test results. A brief presentation will also be given including professional interpretation of the results and information on how to solve drinking water problems.

For more information, call Susan Boser at 724-774-3003 or email smw16@psu.edu for more information.